PHILOSOPHY 
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The Guidance Department is a comprehensive and innovative center which provides students in grades 9-12 with academic, personal, social, career and further education counseling.  The department consists of a Director of Guidance, five school counselors and three clerical staff.  All members of the department are skilled practitioners in the delivery of guidance services and are dedicated to helping students reach their greatest potential within an optimum learning environment.
 
The Sparta High School Guidance Department subscribes to the developmental counseling approach.  This means that counseling services are planned, proactive and preventative.  The developmental model helps students acquire self-understanding, practice coping strategies, clarify issues or explore alternatives common to their "developmental stage" and age.  In the model, the developmental focus is preventative by design and reduces the need for crisis or problem-centered services later.
 
A favorable counselor/student ratio allows for frequent student contact and counselor support on a variety of issues.  Students may arrange sessions with their counselor simply by signing up for an appointment utilizing the "Request for Appointment" clipboard on the counter in the Guidance Office.  In most instances, an appointment will be scheduled in one to two days.  More often, counselors will initiate sessions with students on a continuing basis throughout the year to monitor academic progress and personal growth.  Since counselors work with their assigned students from grades 9-12, an effective, dynamic relationship can be established to help promote maximum achievement.   
 
The school counselors also encourage communication between home and school in addressing student decision-making and problem-solving situations.  Counselors are always available to meet with parents or to assist in arranging parent-teacher conferences.  Day and evening programs run by the department address transition, career education, standardized testing (HSPA, PSAT, SAT and ACT), scheduling, further education and financial aid planning.